Laundry machine and controlling method therefor

Abstract

A laundry machine is disclosed. The disclosed laundry machine comprises: a detergent container for storing detergent; a detergent pump for discharging the stored detergent to the outside of the detergent container; a detergent detection sensor for detecting introduced detergent in the detergent pump; and a processor for determining whether there is detergent on the basis of a detection result of the detergent detection sensor, wherein, when a preset event occurs, the processor controls the detergent pump to operate for a preset time, and detects detergent after an operation of the detergent pump by using the detergent detection sensor.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a detergent container storing a detergent;   a detergent pump connected to an outlet of the detergent container and configured to discharge the stored detergent to an outside of the detergent container;   a detergent detection sensor configured to detect the detergent discharged from the detergent container and introduced into the detergent pump; and   a processor configured to identify whether or not detergent exists based on a detection result of the detergent detection sensor,   wherein the processor is configured to:
 control, based on a preset event occurring, the detergent pump to operate for a preset time, and 
 detect whether or not detergent exists by using the detergent detection sensor after an operation of the detergent pump. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect, based on the preset event occurring and the detergent pump not operating since an operation of the detergent pump has been completed for the preset time, whether or not the detergent exists by using the detergent detection sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the detergent multiple times by using the detergent detection sensor after the operation of the detergent pump, and identify whether or not the detergent exists by using the detected result of multiple times. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mounting detection sensor configured to detect whether or not the detergent container is protruded outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine,   wherein the preset event is at least one from among when the washing machine is initially turned-on, when the detergent container is detected, by the mounting detection sensor, as disposed back to its original position after being protruded to the outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine, when an washing operation instruction of the washing machine is input, or when a washing operation of the washing machine is completed.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store information on a point-in-time at which the detergent container, which is detected by the mounting detector sensor, is disposed back to its original position after being protruded outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine,   wherein the processor is configured to:
 calculate an elapse-in-time from after the detergent container is last disposed at it its original location to present by using information on a point-in-time at which the detergent container was last disposed at its original position from among information on a point-in-time 
 the detergent container was detected stored in the memory, 
 adjust the preset time by using the calculated elapse-in-time, and 
 control the detergent pump to operate for the adjusted preset time based on the preset event occurring. 
   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent detection sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and detects the detergent introduced into the detergent pump by measuring a voltage value in-between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a memory configured to store an intrinsic resistance value based on a detergent type and information on the preset time corresponding to the intrinsic resistance value, and store the voltage value measured with the detergent detection sensor,   wherein the processor is configured to:   calculating an intrinsic resistance value of the detergent by using the voltage value stored in the memory,   check the preset time corresponding to the calculated intrinsic resistance value from among information on the stored preset time, and   control the detergent pump to operate for the checked preset time based on a preset event occurring.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a memory,   wherein the processor is configured to:
 store, in the memory, an identified result after identifying whether or not the detergent exists, and 
 identify, based on an additional washing operation instruction of the washing machine being input, whether or not the detergent exists by using the stored identified result. 
   
     
     
         9 . A controlling method of a washing machine, the method comprising:
 checking whether or not a preset event has occurred;   discharging, based on the preset event being occurred, a detergent stored in a detergent container for a preset time to an outside of the detergent container by using a detergent pump;   detecting the detergent which is discharged from the detergent container and introduced into the detergent pump by using a detergent detection sensor; and   identifying whether or not the detergent exists based on the detection result.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detecting the detergent comprises using the detergent detection sensor to detect the detergent introduced into the detergent pump based on an operation of discharging the detergent stored in the detergent container to the outside of the detergent container being completed and the detergent pump no longer operating. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detecting the detergent comprises detecting the detergent introduced into the detergent pump multiple times after discharging to the outside, and
 wherein the identifying whether or not the detergent exists comprises identifying whether or not the detergent exists by using the detected result of multiple times.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preset event is at least one from among when the washing machine is initially turned-on, when the detergent container is detected, by the mounting detection sensor, as disposed back to its original position after being protruded to the outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine, when an washing operation instruction of the washing machine is input, or when a washing operation of the washing machine is completed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 storing information on a point-in-time at which the detergent container is disposed back to its original position after being protruded outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine;   using information on a point-in-time at which the detergent container was last disposed back to its original position after being protruded outside of the washing machine or separated from the washing machine to calculate an elapse-in-time from after the detergent container was last disposed at its original position to present; and   adjusting the preset time by using the calculated elapse-in-time,   wherein the discharging to the outside comprises discharging the detergent stored in the detergent container for the adjusted preset time to the outside of the detergent container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detergent detection sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and detects the detergent introduced into the detergent pump by measuring a voltage value in-between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 storing an intrinsic resistance value based on a detergent type and information on the preset time corresponding to the intrinsic resistance value;   storing a voltage value measured with the detergent detection sensor; and   calculating an intrinsic resistance value of the detergent by using the stored voltage value, and checking a preset time corresponding to the calculated intrinsic resistance value from among information on the preset time,   wherein the discharging to the outside comprises discharging the detergent stored in the detergent container for the checked preset time to the outside of the detergent container.